Meet the Band
Pat Schwent

          Pat is a retired high school band director from Jackson, Missouri. She has been playing professionally since the age of thirteen when she joined her family's band. She taught both conventional music and Jazz at Jackson High School where she retired as head band director in 2001 after a thirty-year career. Her students were noted throughout the state for their musical abilities and she boasts of fifty-two members of All-State Jazz and Concert bands. Pat has made "Saxy Jazz" a household name for music in Southeast Missouri. In addition to the popular jazz quartet, she now boasts a six or seven piece "Motown/Classic Rock" group, a thirteen piece "Chicago" style rock big band, a German Band, Dixieland Band and of course the Saxy Jazz (keyboard & sax) Duo. She has also performed with the music shows in Branson, Missouri and is well known in the bi-state area south of St. Louis.
Pete Parysek

          Pete received his musical training at San Jose State University. He has performed at the Reno Riverside Casino and Harrah's Lake Tahoe Showroom as well as clubs in San Diego and Palm Springs. Pete has played with such notable entertainers as Tommy Smothers, Andy Griffith, Jerry Van Dyke, Desi Arnez, Tex Ritter, Leon Pettis, Red Norvo, and Jesse Davis. He retired several years ago after a successful career in real estate and joined forces with Pat in April 2001 to form the Saxy Jazz Duo.
Mark Ellison
 Mark Ellison


          Mark Ellison is one of the most accomplished percussionists in the Midwest United States and is Director of Bands at Fredericktown, Missouri.  He attended Southeast Missouri State University and the University of North Texas (the premier university jazz education program in the country), where he earned degrees in both Music Education and Music Performance. Mark has played professionally throughout the world with Stella Parton, Ink Spots, Four Aces, Harry Beckett trio, Art Langston trio, and International Bible Society recording projects. He has conducted wind ensembles and concert bands at state music conventions and is also sought after as a percussion clinician at universities in several states.  His repertoire of styles is seldom matched by even the most famous drummers.
Sam Godwin

          Bassist Sam Godwin received his under graduate music training at Southeast Missouri State University and studied privately with bass legend Jim Widner. He is a professional brass instrument restoration technician. He is accomplished on electric and stand up bass as well as sousaphone. He excels at jazz, blues and rock styles and has played with Clark Terry, Mike Metheny, Wayne Goins and El Buho. Sam has performed with groups at the Edinburgh, Scotland Military Tattoo and was a bass soloist at the Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival. When not playing with the Saxy Jazz Quartet, Sam also plays with several blues and rock groups in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.
Kristin Schweain

          Kristin (Swinford) Schweain made the Saxy Jazz Quartet into a Quintet in June of 2006. She studied both classical voice and piano at Depauw University School of Music, Missouri Baptist College and Belmont University. Since 2000 Kristin has been recording and touring nationally and abroad with the Christian pop/rock trio ZOEgirl. They soon became the fastest selling debut artists in “Sparrow Records” history. In 2002 the threesome accepted the Gospel Music Association’s New Artist of the Year Award. The girls have released seven albums over the past seven years and a string of radio hits. ZOEgirl has toured with such acclaimed Christian artists as Clay Crosse, Carman, Avalon, Plus One, Newboys and Jump 5. Jazz is one musical genre that Kristin cites as an influence in her song writing. She is a long time enthusiast and fan of jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall and Jane Monheit. Kristin released a new solo CD in 2008.
Julie "Henry" Lohman

          Julie Henry Lohman is a hometown Jackson, Missouri girl where she excelled in the vocal music department in High School. She was a member of both All District and All State Choirs in High School and was selected Cape Girardeau County Junior Miss and JHS Silver Arrow Queen. Julie attended Southeast Missouri State University on a voice scholarship. She has performed in several musicals including "Sound of Music" and "L'il Abner". Julie makes her home in Evansville, Illinois where she performs in the local County Caberet and as a "wedding singer" and church solist. Julie assists her husband Dan with their water softener business in Evansville. She has been the voice of the S J Motown Six since June 2008.